On Thursday, the Honda-backed team's name was missing from the
official list of entrants for next year, despite 'Super Aguri' meeting
the deadline to apply for a spot in pitlane.

Media sources speculated that the Japanese squad had not lodged the
mandatory $48m bond.

''We have notified the team that their application has been refused,''
said a spokesman.

''Any further questions should be addressed to the team.''

The prospects of Leafield-based Super Aguri, run by former Japanese GP
driver Aguri Suzuki, began to flag when it became clear that it would
not be permitted to race last year's BAR '007' car.

In more recent days, talks with Paul Stoddart about buying the
2002-spec Arrows A23 had supposedly taken place.

Reports of a possible late entry, which is theoretically still doable,
are thought very unlikely, given that the $48m bond would still need
to be lodged prior to getting the unanimous support of all teams.

But a Super Aguri source said: ''We still intend to make our entry in
2006.

Although the Alex Shnaider-owned team has not yet followed suit with a
formal announcement, the Oporto-born Portuguese incumbent, 29, was
named on the official '06 entry list.

However, a team can change the driver line-up at any time prior to the
season opener.

Apart from the missing Super Aguri, the list featured no other real
surprises. McLaren did not name a title sponsor, although 'TBA'
indicates that an announcement would soon be made.

'WilliamsF1 Team', on the other hand, neither named a sponsor nor
indicated that one would be announced for 2006.

For the first time since 2000, Ferrari's Michael Schumacher will wear
a number other than '1', an honor that passes to Fernando Alonso.

The 36-year-old German, instead, will be car 5.

Jacques Villeneuve's name, meanwhile, was left off the official list,
even though BMW Sauber confirmed that the Canadian would race next
year.

'Honda' unveil new team name
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.2) F1's Brackley based team confirmed on Thursday
that it would be called 'Honda Racing F1 Team' from 2006.

The now fully Honda-owned outfit was first raced as British American
Racing, more recently simply 'BAR', in 1999.

''The name has been selected to reflect Honda's rich and successful
heritage in the sport,'' a team statement read.

Also taking its cue from Honda's history on the grand prix grid, the
2006 car - formerly named in the 006 (2004) and 007 (2005) sequence -
will be designated 'RA106', with the V8 to be 'RA806E'.

The UK-located formula one team also confirmed that Lucky Strike would
continue as title sponsor, with the BAT brand to 'continue to form the
basis of the ... livery'.

However, media sources report that the 2006 car could be painted in
Honda's traditional off-white, as opposed to the usual BAR white.
Indeed, the current 'concept car' in action at Barcelona this week
features 'Honda Racing White' as a base.

''The name reminds us all that we have the depth, determination and
resource required to fulfill our racing ambitions,'' said boss Nick
Fry.

Ralf's new Toyota blows up
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.2) Ralf Schumacher smoked - literally - around the
track as he made his winter test return on Thursday.

The German's first run in Toyota's new TF106 was blighted by a V8
engine failure -- but he was probably amused that old Williams
teammate Juan Pablo Montoya spun his McLaren in the oil.

''We have to hold up our hands and say yes, we had a failure, but
that's why we test,'' said engine boss Luca Marmorini

Ralf, 30, dismissed the blow-up as a 'little engine issue' while
musing about his first taste of F1's less powerful formula.

''Obviously, it's lower on power,'' he started, ''but still a very
good engine with a nice torque curve and very drivable.''

What about the new 2006 car?

Ralf said: ''It felt really good and I was happy with the
(Bridgestone) tires as well - they didn't feel that much different -
even if there's a long way to go with a lot of work.''

Button stays on top
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.2) Jenson Button kept V10 power on top as he tested
for the newly-renamed 'Honda Racing F1 Team' at Barcelona on Thursday.

The Briton, who also got his first taste of Honda's new V8 engine in
the 'concept car', was trailed by teammate Anthony Davidson, who also
switched between the two BARs.

Speculation in Spain suggests that Davidson, despite wanting to land a
race drive elsewhere, will imminently be confirmed in the
Honda-powered 'Friday' seat for 2006.

1982 world champion Keke Rosberg was spotted in the Circuit de
Catalunya grandstand, watching his son Nico power down the straight in
a dark blue Williams-Cosworth.

Young hopefuls Robert Kubica - believed to be GP2 bound - and Giorgio
Mondini got their first taste of F1 power in a Renault, with Kubica -
the Polish champion of World Series by Renault - emerging with the
best time by a second.

''It should never be underestimated how difficult it is to drive one
of these machines for the first time,'' said Renault's Christian Silk.

America's Scott Speed, meanwhile, got testing for Toro Rosso.

Over at Valencia, also in Spain, Felipe Massa worked alone on
Bridgestone tires, while fellow Ferrari tester Marc Gene wrapped up
his V8 engine test at Mugello (Italy).

In Milan last month, it was ruled that events at the 'Autodromo' faced
bans if the noise could not be kept down. The complaint had been
lodged by a group of local residents.

Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper said the Monza appeal
numbered 60-pages, with the defense ranging from alleged inaccuracies
in the testing of noise levels, to the apparent bias of judge Marco
Manunta.

Indeed, magistrate Manunta - in his court ruling - had called motor
racing 'a superfluous, dangerous and socially useless activity with a
big impact on the environment.'

The appeal's verdict is due in the New Year.

V8s would be better - Fisi
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.2) Giancarlo Fisichella has admitted that it would be
'better' if Renault was already testing with a V8 engine.

Every other top team - including Williams, Ferrari, McLaren, BMW and
Honda - is now hard at work on the winter F1 test tracks with early
versions of their 2.4 litre V8s in 'hybrid' chassis.

Toyota, all the while, is clocking up the miles with its 2006 car.

But Renault, the 2005 constructors' and drivers' champion - but not
the highest funded in pitlane - says it will keep the V8 on the Viry
dynos until the New Year.

But Fisichella told Autosport: ''The best thing to do is to have the
car as soon as possible, but sometimes it is better to ... take the
time to build the car perfectly.''

The 31-year-old Roman concedes that Renault followed a similar regime
last year -- and won both titles.

The Renault V8 will hit the track on January 10, Fisichella hinted.

But he continued: ''It is better if you run already now with the new
car but if it is reliable then there is no problem running later at
all.''

JPM, 30, says that as he started to match Finn Raikkonen's pace in
2005, 'you see things changing a bit'.

''But we get on really good,'' he quipped hastily in an interview with
'Autosport'.

Undoubtedly, it hurt Latin Montoya's pride big-time this year, when -
championship hopes faded - he moved into a support role for Kimi's
title charge.

He insisted: ''I didn't do it for Kimi, I did it for Ron (Dennis).''

Juan Pablo thinks his 'changing' relationship with Raikkonen is merely
about finding a competitive environment within his new team.

For example, he surprisingly describes his relationship today with
ex-Williams teammate Ralf Schumacher as 'really good' -- and he
wouldn't have said that a year ago.

Montoya explained: ''I don't have problems with Kimi.

''But at the beginning of the year when things were a lot easier for
him ... it was a lot more relaxed relationship.''

Indeed, in the last five grands prix of 2005, Kimi and Juan Pablo each
won twice. But it has been a tumultuous season for the Bogota-born
driver.

However, 'tennis' injuries and on-track scuffles aside, Montoya says
he is getting along better with his boss, McLaren team principal Ron
Dennis.

''You know, Ron is a strange guy,'' Montoya said.

''Not in a bad way, but he's a guy that wants perfection (but) I'm a
Latin -- I'm a little bit on the other side!''

Graham Hill
(GMMf1NET -- Dec.2) It is now three decades since 1962 and 1968 world
champion Graham Hill's tragic plane crash.

As a team owner, returning from a test in France on 29 November 1975
with his promising young driver on board, he and Tony Brise - and five
other team members - died when the private plane crashed in fog on a
golf course.

''His plane caught the top of trees and ploughed into another tree and
caught fire,'' photographer Rob Brewster - one of the first on the
scene in England - told the 'This is Hertfordshire' publication this
week.

Hill, 46, was the plane's pilot.

He is remembered as a great British driver and a larger-than-life
character, full of jokes and the soul of any party.

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